Knowing me, knowing you
Posted on Tue Oct 14th, 2025 @ 6:05pm by Lieutenant Colonel Jonathon Raynor & Scarlett Hayes Dr.
Mission:
Echoes of the Fallen
Location: Archaeology Department - Stargate command
1817 words - 3.6 OF Standard Post Measure
With the briefing over, Scarlett headed to the archaeology lab, well it was more of an office containing what artefacts had been collected. She was completely fascinated by it all, especially the ancient writings that she’d recorded whilst at Atlantis. There were also boxes containing Goa’uld items collected over the years that she hadn’t yet had chance to study, it was a collection any archaeologist would kill for.
The massive door open, and Colonel Raynor stepped in, coffee mug in one hand, jacket unzipped just enough to show he’d come straight from the briefing room without bothering to change pace. He leaned against the doorframe for a beat, eyes scanning the organized chaos before landing on Scarlett.
“Every time I walk in here,” he said, a faint grin, “I can’t decide if it looks more like a museum… or the world’s most dangerous lost-and-found.”
He stepped in further, lifting the mug slightly in her direction. “You ever actually get to enjoy any of this stuff, or is it all just cataloguing, translating, and making sure none of it decides to explode on us?”
Scarlett smiled. “I love the way you describe this room, for me it’s like a giant treasure trove! I understand some of the writings, but I’ve got a long way to go trying to read things clearly. As for enjoying this stuff I’m not sure what does what right now so I have to be extremely cautious.”
Raynor moved closer to one of the open crates, peering inside until something gleamed back at him. He reached in and carefully lifted a Goa’uld hand device, turning it in the light as though he were trying to see what all the fuss was about.
“Treasure trove, huh?” he said, raising a brow at Scarlett. “Guess that makes you the dragon guarding the hoard.”
The device shifted unexpectedly in his hand, nearly slipping through his fingers. He fumbled for half a second before catching it against his palm.
“Little slippery,” he muttered, holding it up. He set it back down slowly and glanced her way. “Good thing you’re the cautious one, because I’d hate to be the idiot who blew up the archaeology lab before lunch.”
“Well not all these devices are weaponry, some are actually used as medical devices of a sort” Scarlett smiled. “From what I know I should be able to use these devices, but I don’t know if I have enough Naqueda in my blood to make them work. The doctors surmised that I must have gotten what’s in my blood through the placenta while still attached to my mother, the symbiont Shani gave up her life to save us. Apart from that I know very little.”
"Medical or not, anything the Goa’uld cooked up usually seems to have strings attached," he said evenly, though not unkindly. "Still, if you can activate any of this, that’s more than most of us can say. I'm surprised you haven't been used to do so before now as a subject so they could study how this technology works and replicate it. And... the fact you’re still standing after what symbiont thingy did says a hell of a lot about both of you."
He tilted his head slightly, his tone softening. "Just… be careful. Doesn’t matter if it heals or hurts, those things don’t exactly come with instruction manuals, and the last thing we need is you frying yourself trying to play doctor."
Scarlett nodded and smiled. “I wasn’t planning on trying to use them, although I’ll admit I’m curious. My brother and I were adopted into a military family, so I’ve grown up used to being part of the military life. I didn’t want to be a soldier though, Archaeology was always something I had an interest in, that and Anthropology. I just followed my dreams so-to-speak and here I am, I must admit though I’m curious what it would be like to be a host like my mother was. Not to a Goa’uld though, but to a Tok’ra. I want to know more about them.”
Raynor tipped his coffee mug, giving her a dry look over the rim. “Curious about being a host, huh? That’s one hell of a bucket-list item.” He set the cup down with a quiet clink. “It still means sharing your head with someone else. Not exactly my idea of personal space.”
He smirked faintly, leaning back. “Stick to the archaeology and anthropology, Scarlett. You’ll probably get further digging up old ruins than volunteering for a permanent roommate in your skull.”
Scarlett grinned. “Ohh I’m not planning on being a host, I’d just like to meet them that’s all. They might be able to get these insane flashes and memories out of my head, although they are a part of me.” She sighed. “It’s so damn confusing sometimes!”
“I’d imagine it’s like trying to remember your childhood, fragments here and there, but never the whole picture,” John offered, trying to make some kind of connection. Still, the thought of sharing his own body with another being felt almost too much to wrap his head around.
“Yeah exactly.” Scarlett nodded and smiled. “I consider myself lucky though really, not just anyone gets to be a part of all of this.” She picked up a hand held device, one that she’d read about. “Now this…” she almost leapt out of skin as it activated just by concentrating on it. “Whoa!” She put it down giving John a wide eyed look. “I didn’t think that would work so easily, if at all.”
John nearly spilled his coffee as the device flared to life, his brow furrowing as he gave Scarlett a long, questioning look. He slowly pointed at the thing like it might bite.
“Yeah… let’s not do that again,” he muttered, voice edged with dry sarcasm. “How about we just… put that back down, shall we? Before you light up the whole place.”
“Ohh don’t worry” Scarlett pushed the box of items a little further away. “I’m not touching anything until I know exactly what it is and how it’s supposed to work!” She shivered as a chill ran down her spine. “I guess that confirms the naqueda content in my blood.”
John blinked, tilting his head as he eyed the box and then her. He tipped his coffee cup slightly, brows lifting. “Yeah… little too easy, if you ask me. Guess that confirms it alright.” He gave a half-smirk, setting his mug down. “Next time maybe a warning before you light up the room, huh?”
Scarlett grinned. “I promise!” She had to admit she liked John, but whether that was appropriate as he was her Commanding Officer she wasn’t sure. “When I was younger I used to wonder why I had to go tests, then more tests, plus moving from base to base being part of a military family. At least now I fully understand it all, I’d like to have a life of my own instead of being sheltered from the outside world.”
John tipped his head slightly, one brow raised as he studied her. “Yeah, well… sheltered or not, you’ve made it here. That says something.” He leaned back, nursing what was left of his coffee before setting it down with a soft clink.
“There’s no handbook for balance in this life. We trade a lot of the normal stuff away for what we do. Doesn’t mean you won’t find your own way through it.” A faint smirk crossed his face as he added, “Just don’t mistake me for a motivational speaker. I barely tolerate the morning pep talks myself.”
Scarlett grinned. “I hate meetings! I’ll speak when I have to but apart from that I’ll just sit and listen. I know in this case that they’re important. Given the choice I’ll choose to be out on any adventure you want me to go on, I can handle myself in a fire fight, maybe not as well as a trained marine but good enough.”
"Trust me, you’re preaching to the choir. Meetings make my brain want to eject out the nearest airlock," he said, waving a hand dismissively. "Give me boots on the ground and a little chaos over PowerPoint any day. Or a good dog fight."
He studied her for a moment, the grin shifting into something a touch more approving. "And if you can handle yourself in a fight, that’s all I need to hear. Just don’t go volunteering for every adventure, or I’ll start to think you actually enjoy getting shot at."
Scarlett grinned. “Me? Enjoy getting shot at!? Never!” She gave him a wry smile. “I’m no big baby or anything but I hate being injured.”
The Colonel raised an eye brow as he looked her over. "I don't think there are many people out there that like being injured. Now hurt, I know a couple people..." He paused as he shrugged. "But that is a different time and different conversation."
“I think I’d like to hear that one sometime” Scarlett smiled. “You know this is nice, us getting to know one another, I like it.”
Raynor smirked over the rim of his mug, swirling the last bit of coffee like it might reveal something profound. “Yeah, sure you would,” he said, tone dry. “Fair warning though, my stories come with sarcasm, caffeine dependency, and the occasional poor life choice.”
“Now caffeine, I can live with!” Scarlett grinned, “and the rest, for a good story that’ll keep me entertained.” She gave him a warmer smile.
Raynor chuckled, giving a small nod as he shacked his now empty mug in the air. “Yeah, caffeine and chaos, the two pillars of a good mission,” he said with a faint smirk. “Though I’ll make sure to save you the really good stories for when we’re not running on rations and dust.”
“Alright, I’ve got a mountain of paperwork calling my name before Lockhart hunts me down for not filing it.” He gave her a half-grin. “Get some rest, Scarlett. We’ll pick this back up later. We still got our morning briefing, bright and early.”
With that, he gave her a quick two-fingered salute and headed for the door. “Try not to have too much fun in here.”
Scarlett grinned. “Don’t worry I won’t be playing with this lot anytime soon, lots of study to do first. Before that is my well earned rest. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Jonathon Raynor, Lt. Colonel
SG-1 Leader
&
Scarlett Hayes, Dr.
SG-1 Member / Chief Archaeologist
